Review of The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961) by Stephen C — 29 Jul 2012

British science fiction Films is a genre which tends to get overlooked ,which in my view is a shame as their are some real gems in the genre just ripe for rediscovery.

This is one of those gems as director Val Guest had already directed two classics of the genre in the shape of the Quatermass films.

Here the earth is sent on collision course with the sun after the superpowers both detonate atomic bombs at the same time.

The film is set around the old Daily Express offices In London as two journalists are tasked with covering the breaking story .

The scenario is very well handled and the film focuses on character and plot development rahter than OTT special effects .

That said we do get some cracking effects including a massive heat fog which causes all kinds of panic ,and a cyclone which reeks havoc through the city of London.

Guest knows his stuff and the newspaper briefings and final ambiguos headline ending are all chillingly realistic.

Very convincing then but also literate and with proper rounded characters and in Sci Fi that can be a rare beast.